New cycling competition rules annulled by court for discriminating against trans women
The competition regulations for women's races, tightened by an international cycling organization in July 2023, have been ruled discriminatory against trans women by the Brussels Court of First Instance. The ruling follows a case brought by a trans cyclist against the international cycling body and the Belgian cycling federation. The athlete was excluded based on the new regulations, which imposed strict conditions on trans women's participation in female categories. The court found the rules discriminatory and annulled them. The organization must pay moral damages to the athlete. Both organizations can still appeal the decision.
Until mid-2023, the cyclist met the eligibility criteria for women’s races. The previous regulations required a very low testosterone level for at least 24 uninterrupted months. Since July 2023, however, the rules have changed: trans women must now prove they began transitioning before puberty or, at the latest, before age 12 in order to compete in the women’s category. This change led to the revocation of the athlete’s license and her immediate exclusion from women’s competitions.
New conditions are disproportionate, unscientific, and unrealistic
The court held that the new rules create unequal treatment between cis and trans women. For such differential treatment to be lawful, it must pursue a legitimate goal and be necessary and proportionate. While the court acknowledged the aim of fairness in female sports, it found the new rules excessive and unsupported by scientific evidence.
The court noted that the cycling organization itself had previously warned of the lack of reliable scientific data on the matter and had recognized the need for new research. The organization’s medical director repeatedly stated that current knowledge does not support the claim that trans women retain an advantage from male puberty. The court concluded: “There is no scientific proof that women’s cycling competitions, which include both cisgender and transgender women, pose a threat to sporting fairness.”
The court also ruled that requiring transition before the age of 12 is unrealistic and effectively excludes all trans women. In practice, it would require the use of puberty blockers from a very early age.
A landmark ruling for trans cyclists
The court’s order is immediately enforceable and prevents the organization from refusing licenses or participation in women’s races based on these rules. However, the organization may still choose to appeal.
Dit artikel is ook beschikbaar in het Nederlands en Frans
Het in juli 2023 door een internationale wielerorganisatie aangescherpte wedstrijdreglement voor vrouwenwedstrijden is, volgens de rechtbank van eerste aanleg in Brussel, discriminerend voor transvrouwen. Die uitspraak komt er in een zaak van een trans wielrenster tegen een internationale wielerorganisatie en de Belgische wielerfederatie. De atlete werd uitgesloten op basis van een nieuw reglement van de internationale organisatie, dat strenge voorwaarden stelt aan de toegang van trans vrouwen tot vrouwenwedstrijden. Dit reglement is discriminerend, oordeelt de rechtbank, en verklaart het nietig. De organisatie moet een morele schadevergoeding aan de vrouw betalen. Beide organisaties kunnen nog wel beroep aantekenen tegen het vonnis....
Le règlement des compétitions féminines, renforcé en juillet 2023 par une organisation cycliste internationale, a été jugé discriminatoire envers les femmes transgenres par le tribunal de première instance de Bruxelles. Cette décision fait suite à une plainte d'une cycliste trans contre cette organisation internationale et la fédération belge de cyclisme. L'athlète avait été exclue sur la base du nouveau règlement, qui impose des conditions strictes d’accès aux compétitions féminines pour les femmes trans. Le tribunal a jugé ce règlement discriminatoire et l’a annulé. L'organisation doit verser une indemnité morale à la plaignante. Les deux organisations peuvent encore faire appel. Jusqu’à...
